Small Fry, Robina
This small but mighty fish and chippery slings fresh-as-it-gets seafood from a 1930s Airstream parked out the front of Global Pacific Seafoods in Robina – so you know they’re serving the good stuff. Here, catches are lovingly grilled in garlic-herb butter, or battered and fried to perfection, and served with crisp chunky chips. The menu takes a tasty sidestep from tradition with mouth-watering eats like battered-fish bao buns, steamed prawn gyoza, barbecued king prawns, and delicious servings of Greek-style chargrilled baby octopus. Can’t decide? Order the Treasure Box and try a little bit of everything.

Nobby’s Fisho, Nobby Beach
While some fish and chip joints can be hit-and-miss, Nobby’s Fisho is consistently delicious. Tucked away down the end of Chairlift Avenue, the venue prides itself on delivering the freshest, healthiest fish and chips to the local community. Choose from a mouth-watering selection of fresh and cooked seafood (hot tip, opt to have your catch grilled with garlic herb butter, or for something a little different, grilled with chilli paprika). Beyond fish and chips, there’s also a satisfying selection of burgers, hot chooks and bowls brimming with your choice of grilled snapper, Atlantic salmon or prawns – yum!

Fish Mongers, Burleigh Heads
This is one of the Gold Coast’s longest-standing fish and chip shops – and judging by the line-up of locals out the front most nights, its still a firm fave of many. Perched on Burleigh’s James Street, this seafood institution brings in its catches fresh every day, before the best bits are crumbed, grilled or battered to your liking and served with a generous helping of golden fat fries.

The Jolly Roger, Miami
Quality reigns supreme here, with fresh seafood arriving daily and everything you see on the menu – including the sauces – made in-house. While the daily catches rotate, there are staples like giant local king prawns, fresh oysters, housemade potato scallops, chunky chips, punchy Thai fish cakes and more. The fish tacos are damn delicious and plant-based pals can also get stuck into flavour-packed ‘tofish’. Oh, did we mention there are craft brews on-tap? Skip the queue and order ahead here.

The Fish Shak, Broadwater Parklands
The Broadwater Parklands really is a killer spot for a feed of fish and chips. You can choose from a Stone & Wood Pacific Ale beer batter, a tasty panko bread crumb or have it grilled with or without garlic butter … how can you say no to garlic butter? Enjoy it all overlooking the pristine Southport Broadwater.

Red Hot Cod, Burleigh Heads
Red Hot Cod slings a selection of Australian and New Zealand-caught fish, deliciously crispy chips, fresh sides, burgers, colourful poke bowls, as well as a few Asian-inspired dishes. Best enjoyed on a sunny day from Burleigh Hill.

Throwers Fish & Chips, various locations
For years, Currumbin locals have been flocking to the original Throwers Fish & Chips on Thrower Drive, right next to Currumbin Creek. The popular fish and chippery has expanded north with a slick takeaway space on the Gold Coast Highway in Palm Beach, as well as in Robina. Whether you’re a solo snacker or you’re feeding the entire fam, you can’t look past the value pack baskets which are brimming with fish (your way), prawn cutlets, calamari, potato scallops and more. Grab some pineapple fritters to finish.

Peter’s Fish Market, Main Beach
For authentic fish and chips by the waterfront, Peter is your man. This long-standing fish and chip slinger on Seaworld Drive is located right near the trawlers on the Broadwater, so this is as fresh as it gets. In big news, the iconic Peter’s Fish Market site is set for a significant upgrade – but don’t worry, the venue will continue to trade throughout the construction phase. You can read all about it in our Pavement Whispers article.

Charis Seafoods, Labrador
This is a bit of a seafood institution for those on the northern end. Pick up some fish and chips, crumbed calamari, a hamburger or a bag of freshly caught prawns and sit down for a feast in the adjacent Harley Park or on the Broadwater. A heads up – the seagulls will want to be your friend.

Salt Village Fish & Chips, Kingscliff
Whether you want hearty battered fish with a helping of chips, or you’re seeking a lighter alternative like grilled prawns with salad, this southern go-to will curb all of your cravings. The menu also features delicious burgers, crowd-pleasing family packs and old-school favourites like dim sims, fish bites and pineapple fritters.

Sunkist Eatery, Nobby Beach
The newest entrant on the list is found within The Oxley 1823 precinct. Rest assured, this is not your run-of-the-mill fish and chips. Daniel Veitch, the visionary behind the hub, grew up fishing every weekend, being spoilt with the freshest seafood imaginable. So when it came to sourcing seafood for his venue, he wasn’t content with the regular seafood-procurement process, which can leave the fish sitting on a boat for up to 20 days. He’s forged partnerships with trawlers and fisherman that will see him put in an order one day, the fish caught that night and slide into The Oxley’s fridge the very next day.

Millie Weirs Fish & Chippery, Paradise Point
Perched along The Esplanade at Paradise Point, Millie Weirs is know for dishing up ‘healthy’ fish and chips. Trawler-fresh local catches are either grilled, pan-fried, crumbed or battered in a secret recipe, served with golden potato (or sweet potato) chips or a vibrant salad. Plus, the majority of the menu can be served gluten and dairy-free!

Two Wise Fish, Mermaid Waters
Tucked in the Waterways Village complex in Mermaid Waters, Two Wise Fish is certainly not your stock-standard fish and chip joint. Two Wise Fish focuses on high-quality seafood, bringing in the best catches daily fresh from the trawlers to offer a refined take on fish and chips. It’s pretty apparent from the moment you step foot through the door that they take their seafood pretty seriously – so make sure this one is on your hit list.

The Stunned Mullet, Cabarita Beach
A southern institution, The Stunned Mullet not only slings next-level ocean-based delicacies with a healthy twist, but is also in the ideal position for a cracker of a picnic. Choose from the fresh fish of the day cooked how you like it, load up with your choice of fries (the sweet potato chips are a delight) and head to Cabarita headland with a picnic rug. Next, tuck into your delicious feast while you take in those sweeping views of the coastline.

Chevron Island Seafoods, Chevron Island
Owned by the same family since 1995, this popular pitstop specialises in grilled seafood and fresh salads. The menu also covers all of your favourites like potato scallops, battered savs and burgers, while those looking for a sweet treat will want to throw a few pineapple or banana fritters on their order.

Backbone Bar, Tugun
Late last year, Tugun’s much-loved bao and dumpling den Backbone Bar moved to a high-profile corner site overlooking Gold Coast Highway and added a stand-alone fish and chippery and gelato counter in time for summer spreads. The fish-and-chip menu drifts from snapper and whiting to panko-crumbed prawns and crisp potato scallops, with a couple of burgers thrown in to round out the offering. Backbone’s fish and chippery operates from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm and is available for eat-in or takeaway.

Miami Fish Market, Miami
Okay so this one is a bit of a wildcard entrant. If you’re keen to DIY your fish and chips, make haste to Miami Fish Market and browse the incredible range of responsibly sourced seafood from Australia and New Zealand (as well as some show-stopping selections from abroad) that will have you salivating in seconds. Best of all, the team are only so happy to give you tips and pointers for cooking so you get the best out of your purchase.

Honourable mentions: We could go on and on about five-star fish and chip joints in and around the Gold Coast! If you’re still looking for more, catch a feed at Mudgeeraba Seafood, Get Hooked in Tweed Heads, Captain Hook’s Seafood in Tugun, Reef Seafood at The Brickworks Centre and Sorrento Seafoods.

If you’re on the hunt for a sweet spot to roll out a rug, check out our pick of picnic spots. 

Hero image credit: Salt Village Fish and Chips